Courtesy photo
Manhole covers and storm drain covers such as these were stolen from various places in Rochester on Tuesday. The items in the image are examples of the manhole covers and storm drains taken, and are not from the actual theft.

ROCHESTER — Police continue to investigate the theft of several manhole covers and drain covers throughout the city Tuesday.

Early Wednesday morning, police released an image from a surveillance video of an older model white GMC pickup truck that is believed to be connected with the thefts.

The vehicle, thought to be a late 1980s or early 1990s model, was reported to be occupied by three males. According to a witness statement, at least one of the men were seen placing a manhole cover into the back of the truck on Tuesday afternoon.

Police got involved in the investigation after several reports were made about the missing manhole covers and storm drains from city streets and parking lots, around 1:30 p.m. Tuesday.

The property was stolen on Farmington Road, North Coast Road, and several parking lots on Milton Road.

So far, police have no solid leads on the suspects, said Police Capt. Paul Toussaint on Wednesday. He said police are relying on the public's help in the investigation.

The value of the manhole covers and drainage covers stolen has not yet been determined. It has not yet been established whether the suspects would face a felony or misdemeanor theft charge if apprehended.

It is suspected that the thieves were planning to sell the stolen property for scrap metal.

Toussaint said police contacted all scrap metal yards in the area on Tuesday and told them to contact police if any storm drain covers or manhole covers turn up. But he said at times these kind of items are hard to notice for scrap metal yard employees, as “Sometimes people hide them in piles of other junk metal.”

On Tuesday, police also asked other law enforcement agencies to be on the look out for the white pickup truck suspected to be associated with the theft.

Toussaint said that no other local communities have reported similar thefts.

The Public Works Department is responsible for replacing the manhole covers and storm drain covers stolen in Rochester on Tuesday.

Rochester police are asking anyone who may have information that could assist with this investigation, to call Officer Livingstone at the Police Department at 330-7128. You can also provide information and remain anonymous by calling the Rochester Crime Line at 335-6500 or Text to: CRIMES (274637) Body of Text: TEXT4CASH + your tip. Cash rewards are offered for information that leads to an arrest.

Click image to enlarge

Courtesy photo
This white GMC pickup truck is suspected to be associated with several manhole covers being stolen throughout Rochester on Tuesday, police say.